Trip to Colombia: Mountain & Jungle Tribes

Discover the highlights of this trip to Colombia

Bogotá, gateway to the Colombian soul

We will begin our trip to Colombia in Bogotá, a city that blends modernity and colonial heritage. By strolling through the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria, we will admire the colorful balconies that tell stories of the past. Likewise, we will visit the Gold Museum and the Botero Museum, essential spaces for understanding the country's cultural richness. This first urban immersion will prepare us for what lies ahead: a profound encounter with the indigenous soul of the Amazon, another centerpiece of our trip to Colombia.

Coexistence with the Taibano tribe in Altamira

From Mitú, we will travel by small plane and motorcycle taxi to the community of San José de Cananari. Then, we will navigate the river and hike through the jungle to reach Altamira. There, the Taibano community will welcome us in their ceremonial Maloka, opening the doors to their symbolic universe. This experience will mark one of the most intense moments of our trip to Colombia. During this leg of the trip to Colombia, we will participate in the preparation of a traditional ceremony. The occasion can vary: fishing, the chontaduro fruit, or the change of season, depending on the spiritual calendar. Although yahé (ayahuasca) is used, it is not offered to visitors. We will accompany the community in songs, dances, and rituals guided by the payé. At dawn, the ceremony ends with a collective blessing. Later, we will bathe in the river and share everyday moments with the families, integrating the experience into our trip to Colombia.

Meeting with the Cabiyari tribe and the sacred rapids

We will continue our trip to Colombia by descending the Cananari River in traditional canoes. During the journey, we will make a brief stop in Puerto Morroco, from where we will be able to see the majestic mountain of the same name. Upon arriving at the Cabiyari community, we will settle into their Maloka and reconnect with Amazonian spirituality, an essential aspect of our trip to Colombia. With them, we will learn to read the forest, interpret dreams, and understand the balance between humans and nature. We will cross the Apaporis River to visit the Jirijirimo rapids, a sacred site for the surrounding people. During the dry season, the rock formations emerge imposingly. During the rainy season, the waters rush down, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle. This connection between landscape and worldview will make this leg of the trip to Colombia one of its most powerful moments.

Trip to Sacred Colombia: Meeting the Kogui in the Sierra Nevada

We will leave the Amazon rainforest behind and, after a flight over the green immensity, we will return briefly to Bogotá. From there, we will fly to Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast. We will drive up to Palmor, where we will stay at a Kogui farm. Here, we will learn the ancestral art of coffee cultivation as we prepare to trek toward the sacred territory of the Mamos. This new stage adds another layer to the trip to Colombia, connecting Andean and Caribbean spirituality. This leg of our trip to Colombia will take us deep into the Sierra Nevada. We will walk along mountain trails and cross the symbolic threshold of the Kogui world. Upon arriving in the village, we will be greeted by the Mamo, the community's spiritual leader. For a full day with no set program, we will immerse ourselves in their rhythm of life. We will walk through their lands, visit circular houses, weave backpacks with the women, and listen to the stories of the Mamo. This immersion in the Kogui worldview will invite us to rethink our relationship with the land and time. Finally, we will descend toward Palmor and Santa Marta, where we will conclude this trip with a shared dinner and a heart full of learning.

© Photos by Thomas Doyer, Jose Vasquez in Pexels and Vlado Paunovic in Unsplash.

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